1914-08-13 — Page 2

INTIMATIONS

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS. THURSDAY, AUGUST 13гH, 1914.

in this particular department. When that event is consunimated, the question of the position of the various foreign Post Offices in Chica will be thrown into a stronger light Every year, bringing with it increased efficienes and an improved organ-

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119

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MARRIAGE. BLAODEN—ÅLDRINGE. July 1st, at Bray, -A. H:-BLAGDEN, of Shanghai, to MAREL

MARY ALDRIDGE,

HONGKONG OFFICE: 10. Des Vœux Roin 0. LONDON OFFICE: 131, FLEET STREET, E.C.

The Daily Press.

HONGKONG, AUGUST 13TH, 1914,

THE Announcement that China is, from the commencement of September, to enter for mally the Postal Union, marks another stage in the development of her Post Office and, incidentally, will carry a step further the abolition of the distinctions between Chins and the outside countries." We can imaging how CHʼIEN-LUNG- Would turn

China. Where it has become a State monopoly, it has done so only by statute, but any Chinese statutes of that sort would be invalid as against extraterritorialized foreigners, so that the collection and deli- vory of letters becomes a trade which, subject to the limitations of their own laws, foreigners are free to carry on at any of the Tretty ports: so far from the main ten- ance of foreign Post Offices in China being. legally unjustifiable, any Tranty Power bas the right to set up Offices in every one of the Treaty ports. The British Post Offices, at all events, ware absolutely necessary at the time of their caption and it would be anomalous for China to claim that, becauses" thanks to foreigners, she has now her own Post Offices, she is entitled on any grounds to push aside the foreign Offices that are senior to her own. Moreover, even now they furnish services that the Chinese Post Offise cannot undertake, ... the transmission, through the Russian Post handling of foreign Money Orders and the

Offices, of newspaper nails vid Siberia, The British Post Offices certainly undercut the Chinese by charging oaly 4 cents on a letter to Eagland instead of 10 cents, but this difference will be lessened if, as, we understand will be the case, the Mudrid Conference of the Postal Union reduces the international mata to 15 centimes, and in any case China can always cancel the difference by making an agreement with Great Britain, as the United States did, for penny postage between the two countries- it is not likely that Great Britain would raise objections to this comparatively slight extension of an already existing principle. There is, however, one all-sufficient and final reply to all pleas for the abolition of the foreign Post Offices; China is so zealous in restricting foreigners in every way and

whittling down their Treaty rights as far as possible that it would be the greatest pos sible mistake for any foreign Power to abandon, save for some adequate con sideration, any right it may have acquired in China. China herself gires nothing for nothing, and her suggestion that, now that she has no further use for them, the foreign Powers should abolish the Post Offices they established when Chinn had none of her own and which were of real service to ber then, savours of effrontery. A foreign Power must hold on to any right it may liave established in China, for, even if it be seless now, it may prove s vainable asset in negotiations in the future, and on that ground, even if all other agumente failed, the foreign Post Office must be retained.

Major J. G. Constable, Army Paymaster at the Gosport Discharge Depôt, has beau appointed for duty at Hongkong..

The Bishop of Victoria returned from Mrs. Japan by the Hirano Maru Lander and family are still in the North. WAR NOTES

Mr. Adam Wright, third officer of the in his grave if it came to his knowledges.s. Inverclyde, died at sea from heart that China was sending a delegate to an failure, a few days ago and was buried at association of foreiga barbarians to crave "Amoy. admission into their circle for her. It is long cry from China's ancient policy of exclusion to her participation in a modern international organisation, but the general process is becoming familiar, and in the present instance it is the particular case that is more interesting. The accidental foundation of China's Post Office, and its gradual development from a winter courier line between Peking and Chinking to a complete modern service handling some five hundred million articles annually, with a. network of lines and offices all over the country, forms one of the most romantic o

Dr. Voretzsch, the German Consul, has left Hongkong for Siam. He is interest- ed in the brasswork industry of the East, and had intended taking a brief holiday. in Stan this year to study the art of the Siamese brassworkers,

"Death froin uncertain causes was the verdict returned by Mr. E. B. Williams, Caroner, in the Taiping Magistrate's Court at the conclusion of the chapters in China's recent history, at the inquest on Mr. George Russ Ironside, well as illustrating in a very striking way the law agent of Scotland and ex-journalist, benefits she has derived administratively, who was found dead by Mr. F. R. economically, and socially from foreign Howlett, advocate and solicitor, at his Assistance, and China's entry into the Postal (deceased's) house on the evening of July

13th. Union will set the seal to her achievements

THE WAR.

THROUGH REUTERS AGENCY)

THE LAND OPERATIONS.

PREPARING FOR A BIG BATTLE

NEAR LIEGE.

LONDON, August 11th

3 pm

The Germans are methodically reconnoitring the district of Hesbay, west of Liege. Cavalry patrols, followed by infantry, are pushing forward in the direction of Namur, over which peroplanes are frequently

flying.

and 6,000. There have been cavelry skirmishes near Tirlmont, Germans with guns hare seized the railway station of Landen, 24 miles

west of Liege,

These movements are evidently preliminaries to a big battle.

4.35 1.1.

The Official Press Bureau saye that three German Army Corps are still opposite Liege and two Cavalry Divisions : are at Tongres. Other German troops are entrenching along the line of the River Aisne. The Jarge German force in Luxemburg has now reached the Belgian frontier C German patrols are reported at Marche, Gedinne and Arlon,

The Official Press Bureau announces that there is reason to believe that the mass of German troops on the western frontier are distributed be tween Thionville and Liege, and that Lorraine is held comparatively lightly.

It is believed that the forts at Liego are still untaken.

BELGIANS REOCCUPY LANDEN.

LATER.

LONDON, August 12th.

6.15 a.m.

The Belgians have reaccopied Landen, an important railway junction in the province of Liege.

AUSTRIAN TROOPS BELIEVED TO BE IN ALSACE.

11.5 p.m. The Official Press Bureau states that there is every indication that Austrian troops have entered Alsace.

GERMAN ATTACK ON MULHAUSEN.

LONDON, August lith,

44:35 p.m..

The Germans in force attacked Mullansen. The sinaller French force retired brilliantly to a a strong position where they stemmed the

The French remain masters of upper Alsace..

attack.

THE AUSTRIAN AND RUSSIAN ARMIES,

The Austrians have advanced from Cracow towards Kielce and the Russians are moving from Rovno on Lemberg,

RUSSIAN SUCCESSES AGAINST AUSTRIA.

LONDON, August 11th,

It is officially announced at St. Petersburg that in consequence of the Russian successes in minor engagements the Austrians are ovacuating Radziwiloff, close to the Galician frontier near Lembarg

[Received after midnight.

SUPERIORITY OF FRENCH CAVALRY.

LONDON, August 12th.

12.30 p.m.

A French official dispatch emphasises that every fort along the whole of the line from Liege to Belfort is intact. Only small groups of Some Germans entered the town of Liege under cover of the darkness.

small and unimportant engagements occurred between the French and the Gerius. The French cavalry in all the contacts showed superiority.

HOT CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT PROCEEDING."

1.40 p.m.

The German armies are marching from Liege into the heart of Belgium. The German cavalry is advancing all along the front of the allied armies and a hot cavalry engagement is proceeding.

The River Aisne, which was mentioned yesterday in a message by the Official Press Bureau, is & small Belgian stream and not a French

river.

NAVAL NEWS.

SAFETY OF TRADE ALMOST ENTIRELY SECURED."

LONDON, August 12th-

12.35 a.m.

The Official Press Bureau says there is strong reason for believing that the German eruisory Goeben and Breslau have taken refuge in the Dardanelles where they will be dismantled and interned. The safety of trade is thus almost entirely sccured.

(These are the two ships reported on the 5th inst. to have been captured by a French Naval detachment in the Atlantic. On the 3rd inst two German warships were reported to be at the Canary Islands. If these were the two ships, it seems remarkable that they should have passed through the Straits of Gibraltar, about 600 miles from the Canary Islands, and then steamed 1,875 miles to the Dardanelles without sncountering any of the British or French ships in the Mediterranean.

【THROUGH BEUTER'S AGENCYA

GENERAL INFORMATION.

"PERFECT CALM. IN GREAT BRITAIN.

LONDON, August 11th.

8.20 p.m.

There is perfect calm throughout Great Britain, and the Govern mont's asing of maximum prices on foodstuffs is apparently unnecessary. Prices are below the maximum, and practically normal, fish and fruit

being ridiculously cheap.

Recruiting continues with splendid resulța.

SPLENDID RESPONSE TO LORD KITCHENER'S APPEAL.

LONDON, August 11th,

It is officially announced that during twelve hours on Monday 4,700. men joined the British Army. The prompt response which is being made to Lord Kitchener's appeal for volunteers has enabled him to decide the

framework of the new army.

BRITISH VOLUNTEERS FOR SERVICE OVERSEAS,

LONDON, August 11th.

10.10. p.m.

It is officially announced that besides the Territorial units which

for some time past have accepted liability to serve overseas, further. Volunteers are now being asked to follow their example. A great response is anticipated. It is probable that whole Brigades, and even Divisions, may come forward

LATER

The South Midland Mounted Brigade, consisting of three Yeo-

manry Regiments with artillery, etc., have volunterred for service abroad

THE KING AND QUEEN AT ALDERSHOT

Their Majesties the King and Queen visited Aldershot, and were greeted with an ovation by the Troops.

[The visit was probably in connection wish the despatch of the Expeditionary Force, but not a word about that Force has been men tioned yet in Reuter's telegrams from London.-ED.]

GERMANS EVACUATING SOUTH-WEST AFRICA.

LONDON, August 11th.

3 a.m.

A coasting steamer, which has arrived at Capetown, reports that the Germans have evacuated Swakopmund and Luderitzbucht (the principal harbours of the German South West Africa Protectorate),

ACTIVITY IN SOUTH AFRICA.

LuNDON, August 12th.

4.1-8.m.

It is officially announced in Capetown that the Imperial Govern ment, acting on the suggestion of the Union Government, since the out- break of the war decided to remove the Imperial troops, and they will organise and equip an adequate force for replacing the Imperial troops.

[FROM THE CHUNG NOOI SAN PO'T

EASTERN POWERS AND THE EUROPEAN WAR.

LONDON, August 12th.

The belligerent Powers recognise China's neutrality. The discussion which has been taking place between the United States and Japan, with a view to delimiting, the war zone in Europe, has

proved abortive,

tions to

The Tutuhs and

report whitary Governors in

China have received instruc-

places within their jurisdictions are affected by the war, and to institute proper police guards,

The Board of Foreign Affairs announces that the Chinese in foreign countries, except those in Belgium, Austria and Holland, are safe. Owing to the departure of the German troops from Peking the Siong-wen gate is guarded by Chinese soldiers.

Japan regards the present situation at Tsingtau as very injurious

to Eastern trade and will endeavour to improve the position,"

FATAL PANIC AT A BELGIAN CHURCH.

LONDON, August 11th. Fourteen woman and girls have been killed and fifty injured in a panic in at church at Louviere, Belgium, caused by a slight outbreak of fire while mass was being celebrated.

OFFICERS SCHOOL AT.

PAOTINGFU

one class every two years. The 1,200 students are of an average age of 20 years, and come from all China. The school staff comprises headquarters, military. professors (32), who were nearly all educated abroad, especially in Japan; civilian professors of languages (13), and company officers (48). The students are organised in 19 companies of 100 each, under the command of s. captain and three chiefs of platoon, as follows:-Six com- panies of infantry; two of artillery, one of engineers, and one wagon company.

The practical training (drill, target practice, and field service) is given by the company officers. For theoretical instruc tion, given by the military and civilian professors, the students are organised in 24 sections of 50 each. One-fourth of the time is allotted to study and three-fourths to practical instruction, One afternoon each week is given up to field service and another to target practice. The uniform is that of the men of the Army (grey cloth Prior to the revolution military instruc for cotton, according to season), with a tion for officers was given in schools of star on the cap and the company number two grades, viz., preparatory and inter on the collar ornament. The knapsack: mediate schools. The Protingfu School and accoutrements are the same as those is intended to take the place of the two of the Army, khaki The arms include :— former. To it are admitted students who Mauser rifles manufactured in Shanghai; have served a term of six months as Manser carbines, model 1888 of German N.C.O.'s in regiments, and upon their origin; four Krupp field guns; and four departure from the school the studente, Krupp mountain guns. Expenses aro before being promoted officers, go back to allowed, and the students are granted their original units to serve a second term a little pocket money for modest The course is two years, and there is only spending.

The fournal of the United States Artillery publishes the following account of the Officers School at Paotingfu, China: